My stepdaughter borrowed and broke my headphones! Needless to say, I'm kind of upset, I'd had them over a year and they were trucking along great. Surprise: they were Razers. Perhaps as expected, they worked fantastic for games and voice chat and didn't do much else very well.
But I don't really want to go with Razers again. I've been doing a lot more work lately, which for me as a writer, means lots and lots and lots of music. Frankly, I miss my IEMs from years ago, but a) they're too FREAKING EXPENSIVE, and b) I can't wear them that long anymore. My writing sessions can last 12 hours or more on a good day.
So here's the thing: I need new headphones. I've been looking over Newegg (they're my preferred source. Just let it be at that, alright?) and I've realized just how much my knowledge in this specific area is lacking. I really don't know what I'm doing, and I don't have the funds to just buy something in order to test it out (does anyone but super-successful reviewers?). So I'm turning to you, the grand community of Tek Syndicate. I love you guys. Please help.
What am I looking for?
Price: Under $150
Value: I can't afford to overpay
Microphone: No. I'll buy a modmic.
Decent cord length OR wireless
Circumaural. This is completely non-negotiable. My ears can't handle crushing.
Nice optional bonus here: replaceable cord.
Here's where it gets really tricky, guys:
Audio quality: Versatile. I listen to a lot of really varied music, I game, emulate, and play with friends online. So I need something that can handle games, and voice with equal aplomb. But also metal, hard rock, punk, rap, soft rock, post-hardcore, trance, nightcore, etc., and handle it well. Not audiophile studio-monitors well, I realize I can't get that on my budget. But as close as reasonably possible.
Alright. Please help! Suggestions will be greatly appreciated, especially if you can explain specifically why it fits my particular desires here.
Question: Do you have a preference of open / sealed?
Also, I've been using Denon AH-d2000 for years and ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM. They are sealed and very versatile. I've got a mod mic on them too. I'm an audiophile and let me tell you these headphones have a fantastic sound stage and still give me eargasms even with how worn out mine are.
I really have never tried open headphones. It's one of those areas I'm lacking in. However, I don't live alone and I'm leery about distracting my housemates, how much sound is actually carried outside?
With open it varies but you can always count on others hearing what you're listening to with clarity.
^ enough reason to stay with sealed.
That being said, if you have extended sessions of wearing your headphones I'd recommend looking in reviews of whatever you buy to check that they have a nice large "sound stage". (it can prevent ear fatigue)
The others are the AKG 553s on massdrop https://www.massdrop.com/buy/akg-k553-pro-studio-headphone but are only one day left and no replace able cable, at least without modding them. There are as above but $120 +whatever shipping is, great seal, closed back stupid comfortable for sitting at a desk for long times, good sound not full metal but mostly and well built. Unfortunately pleather cushions and apparently still after all these years of the 55x line no good replacement pads.
I am not an audiophile by any stretch but I do very much enjoy my music and like quality in the sound and construction.
Maybe some VMODA headphones? Built like a brick shithouse, sealed, comfortable stock, amazingly comfortable with the XL pads, removable cable, BoomPro mic compatible, and the sound signature is pretty decent. A bit bass heavy, not muddy or gross like some headphones.
I think that checks pretty much everything you have listed.
Not sure if you already checked this out @Logan did a video with Tyler on headphones for less than $150. The video is two years old, but by now some of headphones might be cheaper.
You might have already watched the video (at least from your forum account age) so ignore this post if you already did.
I've been using these for the last several months. For the price they are amazing and feel like a feather. And they don't feel cheap at all. You can easily find a pair for 80 bucks on sale on various sites.
I can personally vouch for the 280 Pros, been my daily drivers for the past several months. Really nice reproduction and clarity on the mids and highs (by my standards anyway haha), bass is also good. Sound isolation is also quite nice, survived a trip to Europe and performed nicely on the plane.
These are studio monitors (hence the nice clarity), so if you're after the more open sound stage try and find a nice pair of open-ears.
In regards to the specifics of your list:
Decently sized cable, but not detachable/replaceable unfortunately
Circumaural
I bought mine for 130 AUD, so you should be able to find a pair for a nice price haha
I just got a pair of Bose QC 15's there great, the noise canceling is amazing and the comfort is great i have used them for around 3 hour and didn't really notice them.